NST Leader: Malaysia must first answer how many migrant workers it needs

Managing migrant workers has long been a challenge for Malaysia's policymakers. Despite numerous government measures, the issue remains unresolved. Tenaganita, a labor rights organization, advocates regularizing current migrant workers instead of bringing in more from abroad. However, the first step is obtaining reliable figures.

Currently, there are no accurate numbers for undocumented workers. According to the Human Resources Ministry, 2.1 million workers are documented as of June last year, primarily from Bangladesh, Indonesia, and Nepal. Other countries contributing labor include Myanmar, India, Pakistan, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, China, Laos, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan.

Undocumented workers are a gray area, with estimates ranging from 1.23 to 1.46 million, though this information is outdated by five years. The Statistics Department reports 3.38 million "non-citizens." Malaysia's heavy reliance on foreign labor highlights the need for better management. Tenaganita's proposal, while having pros and cons, is worth considering.

Regularizing existing workers could address inefficiencies and benefit both employers and workers. However, concerns about a permanent migrant-dependent workforce and potential wage suppression persist. Enforcement challenges also loom, as effective monitoring is crucial to prevent increased undocumented employment. Malaysia's goal of becoming a high-income, high-productivity economy cannot be achieved by continually importing low-cost labor while productivity stagnates.